Blood flow management device

Abstract

Disclosed is a blood flow management device capable of improving user health by improving the flow of blood in human blood vessels using an electric field. The disclosed blood flow management device comprises: an electric field generator including a positive-pole electric field probe having a positive electrode formed at the center thereof and a negative electrode formed at the edge thereof, and a negative-pole electric field probe spaced apart from the positive-pole electric field probe and having a negative electrode formed at the center thereof and a positive electrode formed at the edge thereof, the electric field generator being configured to generate an electric field between the positive-pole electric field probe and the negative-pole electric field probe to regulate blood flow in human blood vessels; and an electric field generator control unit for controlling operation of the electric field generator.

Description

blood flow management device

[0001] The present invention relates to a blood flow management device capable of managing the flow of blood in blood vessels using an electric field.

[0002] Blood flow is a crucial factor in determining the body's health status. Blood supplies oxygen and nutrients to all tissues and organs, enabling cells to maintain function and eliminate waste products. If blood flow is not properly maintained, problems may arise in various bodily systems and have a negative impact on health in the long term.

[0003] The regulation of blood flow is directly related to cardiovascular health. Factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, and vascular elasticity all affect blood flow, and if these elements are out of balance, cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and heart failure may occur. Smooth blood flow is essential for reducing the burden on the heart and maintaining stable blood pressure.

[0004] Therefore, maintaining adequate blood flow is essential for maintaining overall health, and maintaining and improving blood flow is an important factor for a healthy life.

[0005] However, while there are many devices on the market for measuring blood flow, there are currently no devices capable of improving and managing blood flow.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a blood flow management device capable of managing the flow of blood in blood vessels using an electric field.

[0007] A blood flow management device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a positive electric field probe having a (+) electrode formed in the center and a (-) electrode formed on the edge; a negative electric field probe spaced apart from the positive electric field probe having a (-) electrode formed in the center and a (+) electrode formed on the edge; an electric field generator that generates an electric field between the positive electric field probe and the negative electric field probe to regulate the blood flow in the human blood vessels; and an electric field generator control unit that controls the operation of the electric field generator.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the health of the user can be improved by improving the flow of blood in the blood vessels using an electric field.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a blood flow management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an electric field generator of a blood flow management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a blood flow measuring device according to an example of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the antenna portion of a blood flow measuring device according to an example of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a measurement probe control unit of a blood flow meter according to an example of the present invention.

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical components in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of identical components are omitted.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a blood flow management device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an electric field generator of a blood flow management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a blood flow management device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an electric field generator (10) and an electric field generator control unit (20).

[0017] The electric field generator (10) includes a pair of positive electric field probes (11) and negative electric field probes (12). Multiple electric field generators (10) may be provided. The electric field generator (10) can regulate the amount of blood flowing in the human blood vessels by generating an electric field between the positive electric field probe (11) and the negative electric field probe (12).

[0018] The positive electric field probe (11) and the negative electric field probe (12) each include a (+) electrode and a (-) electrode. Meanwhile, if the areas of the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode are equal, an electric field is formed only between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode, and no electric field is formed outside of them.

[0019] Therefore, in order for the electric field to be emitted from the negative electric field probe (12) to be introduced into the positive electric field probe (11), it is desirable that the areas of the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode in the positive electric field probe (11) and the negative electric field probe (12) be distinctly different. Accordingly, it is desirable that the positive electric field probe (11) and the negative electric field probe (12) be formed in the shape of a circular patch with a small center and a wide border so that the emitted / introduced electric field is large. Of course, the shape of the probes (11, 12) is not limited to this.

[0020] The positive electric field probe (11) includes a (+) electrode (11a) positioned in the center and a (-) electrode (11b) positioned at the edge at a predetermined distance from the (+) electrode (11a). And, the negative electric field probe (12) includes a (-) electrode (12a) positioned in the center and a (+) electrode (12b) positioned at the edge at a predetermined distance from the (-) electrode (12a).

[0021] In each electric field probe (11, 12), a first dielectric (11c, 12c) with a permittivity greater than or equal to a reference value is filled between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode.

[0022] In addition, a second dielectric (11d, 12d) is placed at the edges of each electric field probe (11, 12) to prevent electric shock that occurs when the (+) electrode and (-) electrode come into contact with human skin. The second dielectric (11d, 12d) acts as an insulator that does not conduct current and can be used to store the electric field or adjust electrical characteristics.

[0023] The electric field generator control unit (20) includes a voltage control unit (21), a pulse generation unit (22), a period modulation unit (23), a time control unit (24), and a therapeutic sound generation unit (25).

[0024] In the electric field probe (11, 12), if the rim is formed too large, the distance between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode increases, and the electric field becomes weak. If the rim is formed too small, the difference in area between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode is small, and the electric field emitted / inflowed to the outside is small. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain an appropriate distance between the electrode placed in the center of the rim and the electrode placed on the rim.

[0025] Meanwhile, the electric field strength is proportional to the magnitude of the voltage and inversely proportional to the distance between the electrodes, with E=V / m. Here, E represents the electric field strength, V represents the voltage, and m represents the distance between the electrodes. Therefore, to form an electric field of the same strength, the voltage must be increased as the distance between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode increases. Accordingly, the voltage control unit (21) adjusts the voltage applied to the electric field probes (11, 12) according to the distance between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode so that an electric field of optimal strength is generated in the electric field probes (11, 12).

[0026] In addition, if the voltage applied to the electric field probes (11, 12) is maintained at a constant level, the effect of improving blood flow is not significant. The voltage applied to the electric field probes (11, 12) must be in the form of a pulse for the effect of improving blood flow to be significant. That is, the effect of pushing blood flow occurs only when the electric field is applied briefly in the form of a pulse and then turned off repeatedly. Accordingly, the pulse generator (22) converts the voltage applied to the electric field probes (11, 12) into a pulse form.

[0027] In addition, in areas where blood vessels are wide and blood flow is relatively high, the period of the electric field pulse must be short to achieve a greater effect in improving blood flow, and in areas where blood vessels are narrow and blood flow is relatively low, the pulse period must be long to achieve a greater effect in improving blood flow.

[0028] Accordingly, the period modulation unit (23) adjusts the pulse period using information on the blood flow rate of the blood vessel to be managed. That is, if the blood flow rate of the blood vessel to be managed is greater than or equal to a preset blood flow rate threshold, the period of the electric field pulse is adjusted to be shorter than the preset period threshold. In addition, if the blood flow rate of the blood vessel to be managed is less than the preset blood flow rate threshold, the period of the electric field pulse is adjusted to be longer than the preset period threshold. The preset blood flow rate threshold and the preset period threshold may be determined by statistical values ​​obtained through repeated experiments or by sampling experimental results of the subject to be managed.

[0029] In this way, the pulse period control of the period modulation unit (23) can be performed using the blood flow amount flowing through a specific blood vessel, and to this end, the period modulation unit (23) can receive a measurement value from a blood flow meter, compare it with a reference value, and then control the pulse period. At this time, it is sufficient for the blood flow meter to be a meter capable of observing changes in blood flow within the blood vessel in real time.

[0030] For example, a blood flow meter may be an ultrasound meter that uses ultrasound to measure the speed at which red blood cells move within blood vessels, a photoplethysmography (PPG) meter that detects blood flow by shining light on the skin and measuring changes in the reflected light, a laser Doppler flowmeter that measures blood flow by analyzing signals reflected from a laser beam fired at the surface of the skin, or a thermal imaging blood flow meter that estimates blood flow by detecting changes in heat generated when blood flows through the body. Additionally, it may be a meter that measures blood flow using microwaves, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0031] The time control unit (24) performs a timer function that controls the operating time of the electric field probes (11, 12). The time control unit (24) generates an electric field only for a time set by the user, so that the operation of the blood flow management device can be automatically terminated after the set time has elapsed.

[0032] Meanwhile, even if an electric field pulse is generated from the electric field probes (11, 12), the electric field pulse is not perceived visually or tactilely, so the patient does not feel that they are receiving treatment. To compensate for this, the treatment sound generating unit (25) generates a treatment sound synchronized with the time when the pulse is generated from the pulse generating unit (22), so that the patient can recognize that they are receiving treatment.

[0033] That is, the therapeutic sound generating unit (25) can vary the generation period of the therapeutic sound based on the pulse period set by the period modulation unit (23).

[0034] In addition, when the voltage is adjusted in the voltage adjustment unit (21) and the electric field strength is adjusted, the therapeutic sound generating unit (25) can change the frequency of the therapeutic sound based on the adjusted electric field strength to generate high / low sounds.

[0035] Additionally, when the period of the electric field pulse is adjusted again in the period modulation unit (23), the therapeutic sound generating unit (25) can adjust the generation period of the therapeutic sound of the previously set frequency in proportion to the adjusted period.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a blood flow meter (2) according to an example of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, a blood flow measuring device (2) according to an example of the present invention includes a measuring probe (100), a measuring probe control unit (200), and a computing unit (300). The computing unit (300) may be programmed and equipped with the aforementioned electric field generator control unit (20).

[0038] The measurement probe (100) emits microwaves generated by the measurement probe control unit (200) into the target blood vessels of the human body.

[0039] The measuring probe (100) may be provided as a single probe to sequentially measure two or more specific blood vessels of the subject, or provided as a pair to simultaneously measure the blood flow of two blood vessels. Alternatively, it may be provided as a plurality of three or more probes to simultaneously measure the blood flow of three or more blood vessels of the subject.

[0040] The measurement probe (100) includes a measurement probe body (110) and an antenna part (120).

[0041] The measurement probe body (110) is configured in the form of a bar extending in the longitudinal direction, an antenna part (120) is installed at one end thereof, and a cable (C) connected to a measurement probe control part (200) is installed at the other end thereof.

[0042] The antenna unit (120) includes a transmitting antenna (121), a receiving antenna (122), and an antenna spacing adjustment unit (123). In the present invention, the antenna unit (120) can adjust the measurement location of the blood flow to the location of the target blood vessel that is the target of the microwave (specifically, the depth of the target blood vessel that is the subject of blood flow measurement) in a simple manner. This will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

[0043] The measurement probe control unit (200) generates microwaves and causes the generated microwaves to be emitted through the measurement probe (100) after undergoing a process of amplification and phase modulation. Then, the measurement probe control unit (200) extracts blood flow information of the blood vessel by amplifying, phase modulating, mixing processing, and filtering the microwaves reflected from the target blood vessel and received through the measurement probe (100). This will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

[0044] The computing unit (300) can provide information about the health status of the subject using blood vessel blood flow information extracted from the measurement probe control unit (200).

[0045] For example, the target vessels may be the common carotid artery and the vertebral artery. Blood ejected from the heart is supplied to the brain through the common carotid artery and the vertebral artery. In this case, the common carotid artery is located at the front of the patient's neck and supplies blood to the entire brain, while the vertebral artery is located at the back of the patient's neck and supplies blood to the posterior part of the brain.

[0046] Generally, when the blood flow of the common carotid artery and the blood flow of the vertebral artery are the same, blood is evenly supplied to the anterior and posterior parts of the brain, increasing the oxygen saturation of the cerebrum and maintaining the patient's health condition in an optimal state.

[0047] However, if the blood flow in the common carotid artery and the blood flow in the vertebral artery are different, blood supply to all parts of the brain is not smooth, which can cause headaches or reduced concentration, and in severe cases, may lead to dementia.

[0048] Therefore, the computing unit (300) can indicate that the smaller the difference between the blood flow of the common carotid artery and the blood flow of the vertebral artery, the better the health condition of the patient, and that the larger the difference between the blood flow of the common carotid artery and the blood flow of the vertebral artery, the worse the health condition of the patient.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the antenna portion of a blood flow measuring device according to an example of the present invention.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, the antenna unit (120) includes a transmitting antenna (121), a receiving antenna (122), and an antenna spacing adjustment unit (123).

[0051] The transmitting antenna (121) emits microwaves generated by the measurement probe control unit (200) into target blood vessels (T1, T2) within the human body. The receiving antenna (122) receives microwaves transmitted from the transmitting antenna (121) and reflected by the target blood vessels (T1, T2).

[0052] The transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122) are provided in the form of metal rods, and the length of the antenna (i.e., the length of the metal rod) is determined according to the frequency of the microwave generated by the measurement probe control unit (200) according to the following equation (1).

[0053] Equation (1): L = c / (2*f)

[0054] Here, L is the length of the antenna, c is the speed of light, which is the speed of microwaves, and f is the frequency of the microwave to be transmitted.

[0055] In one embodiment, the frequency of the microwave may be 5.7 GHz or 24 GHz. For example, when the frequency of the microwave is 5.7 GHz, the length of the antenna may be formed to be about 2.63 cm according to Equation (1).

[0056] Also, the angle formed by the microwave emission line of the transmitting antenna (121) and the microwave reception line of the receiving antenna (122) may be any one of the range from 50° to 70°. If the angle is less than 50°, the reception sensitivity is poor, and if the angle is greater than 70°, interference may occur between the emitted microwave and the received microwave, resulting in reception errors. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the angle formed by the microwave emission line of the transmitting antenna (121) and the microwave reception line of the receiving antenna (122) may be formed as 60°, and at this angle, interference between the emitted microwave and the received microwave is minimized and the reception sensitivity can be maximized.

[0057] That is, microwaves emitted from the transmitting antenna (121) can be received at maximum sensitivity by the receiving antenna (122) when the microwaves are reflected at 60° from the target blood vessel.

[0058] The antenna spacing adjustment unit (123) adjusts the spacing between the transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122) to adjust the measurement location of the blood flow to the depth of the target blood vessel to be measured. That is, the antenna spacing adjustment unit (123) can adjust the spacing between the transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122) according to the depth of the target blood vessel to be measured. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the antenna spacing adjustment unit (123) can adjust the spacing between the transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122) to change the target blood vessel to be measured from a blood vessel located at a first target location (T1) to a blood vessel located at a second target location (T2).

[0059] The antenna spacing adjustment unit (123) includes a bidirectional screw (123a) and an adjustment screw (123b).

[0060] The bidirectional screw (123a), also known as a simultaneous entry screw, is a screw having a structure that moves closer to or further apart from both sides while rotating. The bidirectional screw (123a) moves axially through rotational motion to position two objects closer together or further apart simultaneously.

[0061] The bidirectional screw (123a) has screw threads formed in two directions, with one side of the screw having a clockwise thread and the other side having a counterclockwise thread. As a result, when the screw rotates, the screw threads on both sides move in opposite directions simultaneously, allowing two objects to move closer together or further apart.

[0062] One end (121a, 122a) of the transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122) is formed to be connected to each side of the bidirectional screw (123a).

[0063] At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting antenna (121) can be connected to the bidirectional screw (123a) at an angle of 60° toward the receiving antenna (122), and the receiving antenna (122) can be connected to the bidirectional screw (123a) at an angle of 60° toward the transmitting antenna (121). Accordingly, the angle formed by the microwave emission line of the transmitting antenna (121) and the microwave reception line of the receiving antenna (122) can be formed as 60°, and as a result, interference between the microwave emitted from the transmitting antenna (121) and the microwave received by the receiving antenna (122) is minimized, so that the reception sensitivity of the receiving antenna (122) can be maximized.

[0064] The adjustment screw (123b) is a bidirectional screw adjustment screw positioned in the center of the bidirectional screw (123a), and is designed to allow simultaneous tightening or loosening in two directions.

[0065] The antenna unit (120) configured in this way can change the target blood vessel, which is the subject of blood flow measurement, from the blood vessel at the first target location (T1) to the blood vessel at the second target location (T2) by rotating the adjustment screw (123b) in one direction, thereby causing the transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122), which are connected to both sides of the bidirectional screw (123a), to move away from each other.

[0066] Conversely, if the adjustment screw (123b) is rotated in the other direction, the transmitting antenna (121) and the receiving antenna (122), which are connected to both sides of the bidirectional screw (123a), come close to each other, and the target blood vessel to be measured for blood flow can be changed from the blood vessel at the second target position (T2) to the blood vessel at the first target position (T1).

[0067] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a measurement probe control unit of a blood flow meter according to an example of the present invention.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 5, the measurement probe control unit (200) includes a microwave generator (201), a transmitting amplifier (202), a transmitting phase shifter (203), a receiving amplifier (204), a receiving phase shifter (205), a first mixer (206), a second mixer (207), a first low-pass filter (208), a second low-pass filter (209), and a signal processor (210).

[0069] A microwave generator (201) generates microwaves of a desired frequency. A transmitting amplifier (202) amplifies the microwaves generated by the microwave generator (201). Since the microwaves amplified by the transmitting amplifier (202) have an inverted waveform, they are phase-modulated by a transmitting phase shifter (203) to convert them into normal signals.

[0070] The microwave converted by the transmitting phase shifter (203) is emitted to the target blood vessel through the transmitting antenna (121), and the microwave reflected from the target blood vessel is received through the receiving antenna (122). At this time, the received microwave contains a waveform of blood flow information of the target blood vessel. Also, some of the received microwave may have the same phase as the emitted microwave, and some may have the opposite phase to the emitted microwave.

[0071] The receiving amplifier (204) amplifies the received microwave. Since the microwave amplified by the receiving amplifier (204) has an inverted waveform, it is phase-modulated by the receiving phase shifter (205) to convert it into a normal signal.

[0072] The first mixer (206) mixes the microwave amplified by the transmitting amplifier (202) and the microwave amplified by the receiving amplifier (204). At this time, the transmitting microwave and the receiving microwave, which have opposite phases, are canceled out by interference, and the waveform of the blood flow information of the target blood vessel contained in the receiving microwave remains.

[0073] The second mixer (207) mixes the microwave amplified by the transmitting amplifier (202) and the microwave amplified by the receiving amplifier (204) and phase-modulated by the receiving phase shifter (205). At this time, the transmitting microwave and the receiving microwave, which have the same phase, are phase-modulated and then canceled out by interference, leaving the waveform of the blood flow information of the target blood vessel contained in the receiving microwave.

[0074] The first low-pass filter (208) passes only the desired low frequencies from the blood flow information waveform that has passed through the first mixer (206), and the second low-pass filter (209) passes only the desired low frequencies from the blood flow information waveform that has passed through the second mixer (207), thereby leaving only the blood flow information in the desired band range.

[0075] The signal processor (210) digitizes blood flow information (which is an analog signal) that has passed through the first low-pass filter (208) and the second low-pass filter (209) by selectively sampling it from 1 μs to 1 ms.

[0076] The digitized blood flow information from the signal processor (210) can be transmitted to the period modulation unit (23) of the electric field generator control unit (20) mounted on the computing unit (300) via a separate wired / wireless communication means (e.g., USB).

[0077] For the above, with reference to FIG. 5, a configuration and method for a measurement probe control unit (200) emitting microwaves into a blood vessel and measuring the blood flow of the blood vessel using microwaves reflected from the blood vessel have been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the measurement probe control unit (200) can be implemented in various configurations capable of measuring blood flow using microwaves known in the prior art.

[0078] Since the basic configuration and method for measuring blood flow using microwaves are widely known, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0079] Meanwhile, the period modulation unit (23) that receives blood flow information can adjust the period of the electric field pulse to be shorter than the preset period reference value when the blood flow of the blood vessel is greater than the preset blood flow reference value, and adjust the period of the electric field pulse to be longer than the preset period reference value when the blood flow of the blood vessel is less than the preset blood flow reference value, thereby improving the effect of blood flow improvement.

[0080] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, those skilled in the art may modify and change the present invention in various ways by adding, changing, deleting, or adding components, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention as described in the claims, and such modifications and changes are also to be included within the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electric field generator comprising a positive electric field probe having a (+) electrode formed in the center and a (-) electrode formed on the edge, and a negative electric field probe spaced apart from the positive electric field probe having a (-) electrode formed in the center and a (+) electrode formed on the edge, and generating an electric field between the positive electric field probe and the negative electric field probe to regulate the amount of blood flowing in the human blood vessels; and A blood flow management device comprising an electric field generator control unit that controls the operation of the electric field generator.

2. A blood flow management device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first dielectric is filled between the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode of the positive electric field probe and the negative electric field probe, and a second dielectric is disposed on the edges of the positive electric field probe and the negative electric field probe to prevent electric shock that occurs when the (+) electrode and the (-) electrode come into contact with human skin.

3. In claim 1, the electric field generator control unit comprises: A voltage regulator that regulates the voltage applied to the positive electric field probe and the negative electric field probe, and A pulse generator that converts the voltage applied by the above-mentioned voltage regulator into a pulse form, and A blood flow management device characterized by including a period modulation unit that controls the period of the pulse using blood flow information of a blood vessel to be managed.

4. In claim 3, the electric field generator control unit comprises: A time control unit for controlling the operating time of the positive electric field probe and the negative electric field probe, and A blood flow management device characterized by further including a therapeutic sound generator that generates a therapeutic sound synchronized with the time at which a pulse is generated in the pulse generator.

5. A blood flow management device according to claim 4, wherein when the voltage is regulated by the voltage regulating unit and the electric field strength is regulated, the therapeutic sound generating unit changes the frequency of the therapeutic sound based on the regulated electric field strength.

6. In Claim 3, It further includes a blood flow meter for acquiring the above blood flow information, A blood flow management device characterized in that the above blood flow measuring device is any one of an ultrasonic measuring device, an optical blood flow measuring device, a laser Doppler blood flow meter, a thermal imaging blood flow measuring device, or a microwave blood flow measuring device.

7. In claim 6, the blood flow measuring device using microwaves, A measuring probe comprising a bar-shaped measuring probe body formed extending in the longitudinal direction and an antenna portion formed at one end of the measuring probe body, The above antenna part is, A blood flow management device characterized by comprising: a transmitting antenna that emits microwaves into a target blood vessel within a human body; a receiving antenna that receives microwaves transmitted from the transmitting antenna and reflected by the target blood vessel; and an antenna spacing adjustment unit that adjusts the measurement position of the blood flow to the depth of the target blood vessel to be measured by adjusting the spacing between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna.

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